asked on

Using Excel to create multiple Folders with subfolders

Hi all

One of my users has requested that I create a new directory for them, the directory will consist of one parent Folder with mulitple subfolders, these subfolders will then also have subfolders.
The user was kind even to send a list of all folders needed to me on a Excel spreadsheet.

The problem is, this directory consists of over 300 folders, each with its own unique name adn as you can imagine, it will take rather long to create.

Is there a way to do this via a formula?

e.g.

Column A contains the command mkdir, column B contains the first folder to be created and column the second folder and so on. Thus far I have been able to use a "formula" to create the first folder, the formula looks as follows: =A3 & B3 the out put of this was: mkdir Folder 1
Cell A contained the command mkdir and cell B contained the name of the first folder... Folder 1.

How can I expand on this to create all required subfolders and their subfolders?

Thanks in advance

sir plus

Function ExtractFilePath(ByVal S As String) As String
    Dim i As Long

    i = InStrRev(S, "\")
    If i = 0 Then
        i = InStrRev(S, ":")
    End If

    ExtractFilePath = Left(S, i)
End Function
''
Function ForceMkDir(ByVal S As String) As Boolean
    ForceMkDir = False
    If Mid(S, Len(S), 1) = "\" Then
        S = Left(S, Len(S) - 1)
    End If

    If (Len(S) < 3) Or FolderExists(S) Or (ExtractFilePath(S) = S) Then
        Exit Function
    End If

    ForceMkDir ExtractFilePath(S)
    MkDir S
    ForceMkDir = True
End Function

Open in new window

DJMohr

ASKER

Ok, how and where would i use this?

sir plus

Create the full path in a cell eg in A5 then use "=ForceMkDir(A5)"

If you post the file it would be easier to help you....

sir plus

by full path I mean "C:\Folder1\Folder2"

sir plus

Push Alt + F11
Add the code into a standard module

sir plus

ooops
I left out 2 functions this needs
Here are all functions

sir plus

Attached

Function ForceMkDir(ByVal S As String) As Boolean
    ForceMkDir = False
    If Mid(S, Len(S), 1) = "\" Then
        S = Left(S, Len(S) - 1)
    End If

    If (Len(S) < 3) Or FolderExists(S) Or (ExtractFilePath(S) = S) Then
        Exit Function
    End If

    ForceMkDir ExtractFilePath(S)
    MkDir S
    ForceMkDir = True
End Function



Function ExtractFilePath(ByVal S As String) As String
    Dim i As Long

    i = InStrRev(S, "\")
    If i = 0 Then
        i = InStrRev(S, ":")
    End If

    ExtractFilePath = Left(S, i)
End Function
''

Function SF_InstrRev(ByVal Haystack As String, ByVal Needle As String) As Long
    'find the last occurence of needle in haystack (the VB instr function finds the first occurence)
    'SF_InstrRev("   This is   my string   ","i") = 20
    Dim i As Long, J As Long
    i = InStr(1, Haystack, Needle, vbBinaryCompare)
    If SF_isNothing(Needle) Then
        SF_InstrRev = 0
    Else
        If i = 0 Then
            SF_InstrRev = 0
        Else
            If StrComp(Needle, Haystack, vbBinaryCompare) = 0 Then
                SF_InstrRev = 1
            Else
                For J = Len(Haystack) To 1 Step -1
                    i = InStr(J, Haystack, Needle, vbBinaryCompare)
                    If i > 0 Then
                        SF_InstrRev = i
                        Exit Function
                    End If
                Next J
            End If
        End If
    End If
End Function

Function SF_isNothing(ByVal Haystack As String) As Boolean
    'check if there is anything in a string (to avoid testing for
    'isnull, isempty, and zero-length strings)
    'SF_isNothing("   This is   my string   ") returns False
    If Haystack & "" = "" Then
        SF_isNothing = True
    Else
        SF_isNothing = False
    End If
End Function

Open in new window

sir plus

LOL
Ignore that -It doesnt use those 2 extra functions

sir plus

How did you go?

DJMohr

ASKER

Sorry man, been bit busy.

So just to recap, In cell A5 I create the full UNC path: c:/Folder1/Folder2...
then I do something with the code you provided...
Do I create a batch file and run it?

sir plus

Post your book
Will set it up

sir plus

No Batch
just set up the sheet and when it calculates it sets up
Or you can create a macro to do it

Post the sheet with the folders

DJMohr

ASKER

Files attached.
Electrical-Engineering-Filing-St.xls
Construction-Monitoring-Filing-S.xls

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

sir plus

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.